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LOCATION: Easton, PA
CONFERENCE: Patriot League
LAST SEASON: 22-8 (.733)
CONFERENCE RECORD: 10-2 (1st)
STARTERS LOST/RETURNING: 3/2
NICKNAME: Leopards
COLORS: Maroon & White
HOMECOURT: Allan P. Kirby Sports Center
COACH: Fran O'Hanlon (Villanova '70)
record at school 59-54 (4 years)
career record 59-54 (4 years)
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ASSISTANTS: Pat Brogan (Dickinson '90)
Mike McKee (Lehigh '94)
Mike Burden (Rowan '95)
TEAM WINS: (last 5 years) 2-7-11-19-22
RPI (last 5 years) 297-275-267-143-98
1998-99 FINISH: Lost in NCAA first round.
ESPN.com Clubhouse
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Hey, we all should have Fran O'Hanlon's problems. The guy goes into 1998-99 thinking his team's on top of the world, or, at least, the Patriot League. Then he hears his best player, the preseason conference player of the year, his 6-11 senior center, has ripped up his knee. The verdict: A torn ACL, ending Stefan Ciosici's season before it even starts and dashing Lafayette's legitimate hopes for the league title. Except that O'Hanlon is a winner, not a quitter. Rather than dwell on what he didn't have, he simply went back to work, finding ways to replace Ciosici's points and rebounds and keeping the Leopards' heads in every game. Oh, one more thing. In this space last year, these words appeared: "But you don't replace a player of the year. You can't, unless you have another player of the year waiting in the wings, which O'Hanlon doesn't." Oops. Turns out that talented swingman Brian Ehlers decided that it was up to him to step up and replace his fallen teammate. Ehlers sparkled all season long and finished by being chosen the Patriot League's Player of the Year. Lafayette broke out of the gate strong, winning eight of its first 10, including a 16-point clubbing of Princeton. One of the losses was to Purdue, then ranked No. 15, by only five points. The Leopards went on to tear through the league schedule, losing just two games, both to Colgate. For the second consecutive season, Lafayette claimed both the Patriot's player- and coach-of-the-year awards, with Ehlers replacing Ciosici and O'Hanlon again earning top honors.
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Blue Ribbon Analysis |
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BACKCOURT B+ BENCH/DEPTH C+
FRONTCOURT B INTANGIBLES B+
After years of bottom-feeding, Lafayette is, without a doubt, back on top and the team to beat in the Patriot League. Fran O'Hanlon has instilled a sense of purpose in the Leopards, has taught his team how to win, and is recruiting players capable of continuing the success. This season marks an interesting crossroads for the program. Two conference players of the year return, a first in NCAA history, say Lafayette officials. Brian Ehlers is as close to a sure thing as any Patriot League team will have, while Stefan Ciosici must prove that his heart and soul didn't disintegrate the way his knee did. The Patriot League is not a big man's conference, so a near-7-footer who possesses legitimate skills will almost automatically shine. Colgate's Adonal Foyle proved it a few years ago, and Ciosici has done it more recently. If he's back to form, the Patriot race may be over as soon as it starts, even if Ehlers only stands pat in his development. Other plusses: The point is in capable hands and there is depth in the backcourt. Expect the Leopards to play their usual hard-nosed defense, to dive for every lose ball in the gym, and not to beat themselves. Forward, however, is a jumble of question marks, so expect O'Hanlon, a man who doesn't like mysteries, to try to find some answers as quickly as possible. And with only two starters returning from a season ago, leadership is suddenly an issue. Still, O'Hanlon has shown himself capable of spinning lead into gold. If he can work his alchemy again, a return invitation to the Big Dance should be forthcoming. |
Senior Ted Cole, taking over the center position from Ciosici, was a revelation, averaging 11.8 ppg and being chosen to the All-Patriot first team. The Leopards' third matchup against Colgate came in the Patriot League Tournament semifinals, and this time Lafayette was able to solve the Red Raiders. A four-point victory over Bucknell, sealed by tournament MVP Ehlers' two late free throws, propelled them into the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1957. Playing in Boston, Lafayette, No. 15 in the East, stayed close with second-seeded Miami, and went into halftime trailing by five. The dream came to a jarring end, though, as the Leopards scored just 25 second-half points and fell to the Hurricanes, 75-54. And for an encore? A second consecutive Patriot title, anyone? Oh, sure, Lafayette insiders prefer to use the term "cautious optimism," but let's face facts. Ehlers returns at guard and is the preseason pick to repeat as conference player of the year. Two-year starter Tim Bieg will join him in the backcourt, and Tyson Whitfield, a former Patriot League Rookie of the Year, will also be on hand. A nice-looking freshman class will provide depth and a foundation for future success. And as if all that weren't enough, Ciosici sat out last year as a redshirt and will man the pivot this season as a fifth-year senior. Consider as well that Lafayette's Allan P. Kirby Sports Center, formerly the Kirby Field House, will host this year's conference tournament, and the Leopards' overwhelming selection as the top preseason team by the league's coaches and sports information directors seems completely valid. Ehlers (18.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg) was simply amazing last year, pacing the Leopards in scoring, rebounding, three-point shooting (.390), free-throw shooting (.828) and minutes played. The 6-4 senior is a remarkably versatile offensive player who can and does score from anywhere on the floor, he hit nearly 50 percent of his shots, and isn't afraid to take the ball to the hole. And you want consistency? Ehlers has scored in double figures in 41 straight games, including the NCAA loss. O'Hanlon won't hesitate to swing him to small forward as well. Bieg (8.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg), a 5-11 junior, comes back to start at the point. He is hardly the flashiest floor general, but his solid ball-handling and passing skills get the job done. Bieg led the Leopards in assists (88) against just 46 turnovers, and played sticky defense, leading the squad in steals (48). He chipped in offensively, too, though his .376 shooting percentage could stand an improvement. The athletic Whitfield (9.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg), a 6-4 junior, will step in and spell Ehlers. Whitfield looks poised for a breakout year if he can avoid last season's injury bug. The league rookie of the year for 1997-98, he struggled with a balky back that kept him out of eight games. Nevertheless, he led Lafayette in three-point goals with 53. In addition to lofting it from outside, Whitfield can finish on the break and mix it up inside. Also providing an outside presence is 6-5 sophomore Brian Burke (4.0 ppg, 0.9 rpg), who saw the most action of any Lafayette freshman last season. He showed a knack for hitting clutch shots from long range and will look to take advantage of Bieg's ability to penetrate with the ball and create openings at the arc. "The perimeter should be solid, especially if Tyson Whitfield can return to form after a season of recurring back problems," O'Hanlon said. The Leopards' depth in the backcourt allows O'Hanlon to call on 6-3 sophomore Reggie Guy (2.4 ppg, 1.4 rpg) when the team needs a defensive stop; Guy had 30 steals, one per game, while playing only 14.4 minutes a night. He also started three times. Mike Homer (2.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg), a 6-4 senior, is a steadying influence at guard. The next backcourt star at Lafayette could be 6-5 freshman Winston Davis (Tampa Prep/Tampa, Fla.), a highly touted youngster who helped his team to an 86-19 record and an appearance in the state tournament each of the last three seasons. Davis put up nice numbers (15.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg) while playing next to Duke freshman Casey Sanders. O'Hanlon's most immediate task is to fill the gaps at forward, where the departed Cole, Ross Harms and Dave Klaus performed so admirably a season ago. With no obvious choices among the veterans, the coach may tap one or more of his newcomers. "Who will play at the four spot is a real question mark," O'Hanlon said. "We lose a lot at that position with the seniors who graduated." First chance may go to 6-10 sophomore Mick Kuberka (0.7 ppg, 1.0 rpg), who saw limited time in 23 games a year ago; this season he may also fill in at center. General Butler (1.3 ppg, 1.2 rpg), a 6-6 sophomore, played in 20 games; Rob Worthington (1.1 ppg, 0.5 rpg), a 6-6 sophomore, played just 15 times; and 6-8 sophomore Andy Maurer (0.2 ppg, 0.6 rpg) cracked the lineup only nine times. That kind of inexperience spells opportunity for Lafayette's incoming freshmen forwards. The 6-5 Greg McCleary (West Catholic HS/Philadelphia, Pa.) averaged 13.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg, and 2.0 blocks per game in leading his squad to the championship game of Philadelphia's Catholic League. At 6-6, David Bonney (El Paso HS/El Paso, Texas) is a warrior, a fierce competitor who scored 16 points in a victory over national power Dunbar High. Scott Gearhart (Heights School/Darnstown, Md.), a slender 6-8 player, required a year of post-graduate seasoning at Wooster Academy, where he played tough defense and averaged in double figures. The Leopards' success this year depends almost entirely on Ciosici's health. The 6-11 Romanian's knee is said to be fully healed, and a strengthening program added bulk to his frame. The last time he played, two seasons ago, Ciosici averaged 17.0 ppg and 7.9 rpg. If healthy and relatively rust-free, he will be able to hide many of the potential problems that could crop up because of the youth of the forwards. Ciosici's backup will be 6-11 Frank Barr (6.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg), who saw unexpected minutes a year ago and responded well. The solid Barr shot .515 from the floor and rejected a team-high 47 shots, mostly as a reserve. Don't be surprised if O'Hanlon flashes a Twin Towers look now and then by playing him and Ciosici simultaneously. "If Stefan can return to the form he showed in his junior season, we should have good scoring and depth in the post with him and Frank Barr," O'Hanlon said.
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